There’s something quietly joyful about turning a humble egg into a small piece of art. Whether you’re decorating for spring, entertaining children, or simply looking for a mindful creative moment, egg painting is an easy place to start.

At Joy Farms, we’ve been experimenting with both freshly laid eggs and empty shells. Because our eggs last up to 28 days from the day of lay, we’ve happily painted some fresh (using edible pens so they can still be eaten), and others after boiling and enjoying them. Once they’re back in an egg tray upside down, you’d never know which are empty — perfect for display.

Where to begin
Start with clean, dry eggs. You can use:

Fresh eggs (use edible pens if you plan to eat them)
Hard-boiled eggs (great for children or quick projects)
Blown eggs (best if you want to keep them long-term)

If you’re new, keep it simple. Dots, stripes, and repeating patterns often look the best. One tip we loved: rest the egg in an egg cup and turn the cup slowly while holding your pen steady — it makes clean stripes much easier.

Egg painting Design ideas (what worked beautifully for us)

Our brown eggs lend themselves to monochrome — white patterns, black detailing, or a mix of both look striking.
Our pale blue eggs (from our Snowbar hens) are perfect for colour — think ladybirds, candy dots, florals, or soft pastel designs. They also work surprisingly well with bold black patterns.

Materials & what to use to paint eggs?

Edible pens – ideal if you’re painting fresh eggs you’ll still cook
Permanent markers (like Sharpies) – popular and easy to use for decorative eggs
Acrylic paints – likely to give the best coverage if painting (we found watercolours don’t stick well to the shell)

More than just decorating
We found the process unexpectedly calming — almost meditative. Repeating patterns, gentle brush strokes, and focusing on small details makes it a lovely way to slow down and switch off.

Try it yourself
If you’d like some inspiration, take a look at our Pinterest board for ideas, or browse the gallery below to see some of the designs we’ve created on the farm. Whether you’re creating a seasonal display or just enjoying a quiet creative moment, it’s a simple, satisfying way to connect with something as everyday — and as special — as a good egg.

Here are some we painted: